A maraca (pronunciationⓘ), sometimes called shaker or chac-chac,[1] is a rattle which appears in many genres of Caribbean and Latin music.

Maracas (from Guaraní mbaracás),[2] also known as tamaracas, were rattles of divination, an oracle of the Brazilian Tupinamba people, found also with other Indigenous ethnic groups, such as the Guarani, Orinoco and in Florida.

Rattles made from Lagenaria gourds are being shaken by the natural grip, while the round Crescentia calabash fruits are fitted to a handle.

[3] Human hair is sometimes fastened on the top, and a slit is cut in it to represent a mouth, through which their shamans (payes) made it utter its responses.

A few pebbles are inserted to make it rattle and it is crowned with the red feathers of the guarás (scarlet ibis).